BACK TO THE STONE AGE INNOVATIONS HAVE MADE LIGHTWEIGHT CONCRETE FACADES MORE POPULAR THAN EVER.Byline: Elizabeth Smilor Correspondent Artificial stone veneer veneer (vənēr`), thin leaf of wood applied with glue to a panel or frame of solid wood. The art of veneer developed with early civilization. has been around since the 1960s, but it's never looked so good. ``The industry has evolved in manufacturing techniques and types of product,'' says Bob Heath, vice president of Marketing for Cultured Stone, a division of Owens-Corning and one of the largest makers of manufactured stone. ``The popularity of stone has increased dramatically. One of the reasons is the variety of textures and looks you can create.'' An artificial stone veneer can be used to create an exterior wainscoting, dress up an entryway, add formality formality, in chemistry: see chemical equilibrium; concentration. to landscaping or unify 1. (database, product) Unify - A relational database produced by Unify Corporation. 2. (algorithm) unify - To perform unification. an outdoor kitchen. You can bring the outside in by repeating a stone look on a fireplace or accent wall. The look is popular on new homes and can transform an older home. ``It instantly brings a huge sense of value to a home,'' says Brent Spann, marketing director for Eldorado Stone, another large manufacturer. ``The investment is minimal, the impact from the curb is substantial. It makes a home look a lot more custom. David Frenzel, general manager for Southeast Construction Products, the largest distributor of real and artificial stone in the L.A. area with locations in South El Monte South El Monte, city (1990 pop. 20,850), Los Angeles co., S Calif., in the San Gabriel Valley; inc. 1958. Manufactures include transportation equipment, electrical and plastic products, clothing, textiles, machinery, and furniture. There is poultry processing. , Monrovia, Chino Chino (chē`nō), city (1990 pop. 59,682), San Bernardino co., S Calif.; founded 1887, inc. 1910. It is the business and processing center of a diversified farming (notably dairying) area. , Whittier and Covina, says the variety of looks makes manufactured stone popular with builders and homeowners seeking to differentiate their houses. ``Because of the tremendous variety of artificial stone, it offers the homeowner a plethora plethora /pleth·o·ra/ (pleth´ah-rah) 1. an excess of blood. 2. by extension, a red florid complexion.pletho´ric pleth·o·ra n. 1. of choices,'' Frenzel says. ``For many years there was a fairly limited selection. Now, they have a much more natural appearance than previous stones.'' Stone veneer is created by pouring a lightweight concrete into molds made from a master set of real stones. Manufacturers can replicate every tiny detail of real stone, Heath says. They also hand pick the shapes and sizes of stone used to create the molds, thus making the artificial stone easier to piece together. ``We pull a lot of different natural stones, so you get a wide sampling before you see a repeat of a shape,'' explains Eldorado's Spann. ``Every stone is different-looking, which makes it look like the real thing.'' Heath of Cultured Stone says the most exciting trend is the creation of colors not of the white race; - commonly meaning, esp. in the United States, of negro blood, pure or mixed. See also: Color that don't exist in nature. ``The industry has evolved past replicating natural stones to creating unique stones,'' he says. ``Our top-selling stones in the nation would never be found in a quarry. They're created by working with architects to match other building materials Building materials used in the construction industry to create . These categories of materials and products are used by and construction project managers to specify the materials and methods used for . .'' Cultured Stone's Buck's County, a mixture of gray and taupe taupe n. A brownish gray. [French, from Old French, mole, from Latin talpa.] taupe adj. Noun 1. tones, is its most popular shade nationwide. The most desirable styles in Southern California Southern California, also colloquially known as SoCal, is the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Centered on the cities of Los Angeles and San Diego, Southern California is home to nearly 24 million people and is the nation's second most populated region, are ledgestones and blending textures of the same color, Heath says. Eldorado's stacked stone, Mountain Ledge and Cliffstone are big sellers here, Spann says. Balboa Balboa, town (1990 pop. 2,751), Colón prov., in the former Panama Canal Zone, on the Gulf of Panama. The port for Panama City, Balboa was the administrative headquarters of the Panama Canal Zone. It was also the site of a U.S. navy base (closed 1999). Brick and Supply Corp. in North Hills has been selling artificial stone since the 1960s and manager Brent Taylor says he's seen a rise in its popularity. ``Since the (Northridge) earthquake, people don't want real stone,'' he says, explaining that the weight of real stone makes it more hazardous. ``This is a cheaper way to get that look.'' The two styles he sells most often are river rock and stacked stone. Taylor says most homeowners hire an experienced mason to install the stone veneer. ``It's like a jigsaw A Web server from the W3C that incorporates advanced features and uses a modular design similar to the Apache Web server. Jigsaw supports HTTP 1.1 and provided an experimental platform for HTTP-NG. See HTTP-NG and Amaya. puzzle trying to fit the stones together and keep the joints real tight,'' he explains. Heath says a homeowner with basic handyman skills can install the veneer. Cultured Stone offers detailed installation instructions on the Web, CD and video, he says. ``It's easier than installing floor tile.'' Ken Khteian of La Canada Flintridge installed stacked stone veneer stone veneer' is a building material manufactured to replicate the look of natural stacked stone in an easy to install panel. The process is fairly simple to replicate natural stone since all that is required is a concrete mix and rubber forms to pour the mix into. by Cultured Stone on the front of his 1960 house and around pillars of the carport CARPORT Cardiology A clinical trial–Coronary Artery Restenosis Prevention on Repeated Thromboxane-Antagonism Study that evaluated thromboxane A2-receptor blockade in preventing restenosis after PCTA in Pts with CAD. . He did all the work himself over six months and was featured on HGTV's ``Weekend Warriors'' about two years ago. ``It was a huge job to tackle. We did it ourselves to save money,'' Khteian said. In the end, he saved a lot of money because companies donated the materials in exchange for credit on the show. He estimates the job would have been $20,000 with labor. Khteian, 55, did a lot of research before starting and asked Cultured Stone customer service representatives many questions along the way. He liked working with the lighter artificial stone. ``I would encourage people to do it. You have to have perseverance Perseverance See also Determination. Ainsworth redid dictionary manuscript burnt in fire. [Br. Hist.: Brewer Handbook, 752] Call of the Wild, The dogs trail steadfastly through Alaska’s tundra. [Am. Lit. ,'' Khteian said. Two years later, he's happy with the home's new look. ``Every single stone is still up. There's virtually no maintenance. The look really fits the environment. You feel like you're up in the mountains.'' There are a few important points to know about ordering and installation. First, you order stones based on the square footage of the area you want to cover. Additionally, you'll need to measure the lineal That which comes in a line, particularly a direct line, as from parent to child or grandparent to grandchild. LINEAL. That which comes in a line. Lineal consanguinity is that which subsists between persons, one of whom is descended in a direct line from the other. footage (top to bottom) of any corners to order special corner pieces. There are also pieces configured con·fig·ure tr.v. con·fig·ured, con·fig·ur·ing, con·fig·ures To design, arrange, set up, or shape with a view to specific applications or uses: for windows and sills Sills , Beverly Originally Belle Silverman. Born 1929. American operatic soprano and manager who joined the New York City Opera in 1953 and was its general director from 1980 to 1989. Noun 1. . If you have any doubts, take a photo of the area to a local retailer. When you install the stone, know what grout Grout A binding or structural agent used in construction and engineering applications. Grout is typically a mixture of hydraulic cement and water, with or without fine aggregate; however, chemical grouts are also produced. style you like. ``This drives the look and feel of the product as much as anything,'' says Spann, who described the three grout styles. Dry-stack does not reveal any grout lines. Standard raked rake 1 n. 1. A long-handled implement with a row of projecting teeth at its head, used especially to gather leaves or to loosen or smooth earth. 2. A device that resembles such an implement. v. grout reveals thin grout lines just below the surface of the stone. Over-grout is when the grout spills over the surface of the stones making the grout joints more irregular and wider. ``This gives you that Old World or Tuscan look,'' Spann says. If you do hire a professional to install the stone, you will save money if you opt for artificial faux stone. ``Two to five times more faux stone can go up in a day than natural stone,'' Heath says. Thus, you save at least half on the cost of installation. Pat Simpson, host of HGTV's ``Fix It Up'' and ``Before and After,'' says he prefers to work with manufactured stone. ``We can buy it more uniform. If we buy from a stone yard, we spend hours chipping away at it.'' And its lighter weight is easier on the crew's backs. ``Trends are leaning toward hard surfaces for the exterior of the house,'' Simpson says, adding that he's using it on a Craftsman-style house he's building for himself. Terry Shorten of CM Concrete in Camarillo says his crews install a lot of manufactured stone veneers, especially on new or custom homes. ``I like the varieties of stone and the quality of installation,'' he says. ``It enhances the curb appeal of most new houses. It's attractive to architects and designers.'' Faux-stone facts What: Lightweight concrete molded and colored to create more than 100 different looks. Uses: It can be used outside on exterior house walls, entryway columns, outdoor kitchens or rooms, and garden walls and structures. Inside, it's often used on fireplaces or accent walls. How to order: Know the square footage of the area you want to cover as well as the lineal footage of any corners. There are special corner pieces available. Take a picture of your house or area you want to cover to a local distributor for style ideas or visit the Web sites below. Installation: The veneer's flat back and lighter weight makes it easier and cheaper to install. It does not require the poured footing or extra reinforcing real stone does. Cost: $4 to $7 uninstalled; $12 to $20 installed per square foot. Resources: Coronado Stone Products, www.coronado.com or (800) 847-8663; Cultured Stone, www.culteredstone.com or (800) 255-1727; Eldorado Stone, www.eldoradostone.com or (800) 925-1491; Tejas Textured Stone, www.tejasstone.com or (866) 578-5616. CAPTION(S): 11 photos, box Photo: (1 -- cover -- color) Rock on Manufactured stone veneer changes look of Valley homes PICTURED: Saratoga Rustic Ledge with a dry-stack grout by Eldorado Stone (2 -- color) BEFORE: Ken Khteian wanted to do the stone-veneer installation himself on his La Canada Flintridge home, which was built in 1960. (3 -- color) AFTER: It took six months, but Khteian's home now has a new look with material from Cultured Stone. Note the detail in his entryway in the photo at right. HGTV HGTV Home and Garden Television chronicled the experience on ``Weekend Warriors'' (4 -- color) Cultured Stone's Stream Stone decorates this fireplace. The relatively light weight makes the material easier to work with than real rocks. (5 -- 6 -- color) Blending textures from the same color palette Also called a "color lookup table," "lookup table," "index map," "color table" or "color map," it is a commonly used method for saving file space when creating 8-bit color images. is a common use of manufactured stone veneer, says Bob Heath, vice president of marketing for Cultured Stone. This home's entryway columns boast a blend of styles. (7 -- 8 -- color) This home in Irvine makes an enduring impression with Veneto Fieldledge by Eldorado Stone. It is one of the company's most popular styles among Southern California homeowners. (9 -- 10 -- color) Cobblefield by Cultured Stone is an ``uncoursed'' stone veneer, meaning the stones are placed without forming distinct rows. Rough and rectangular, the pieces are cast from an assortment of presized stones. (11 -- color) no caption (river rock and stacked stone) John McCoy/Staff Photographer Box: Faux-stone facts (see text) |
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